House Agriculture Committee Holds Hearing on Dietary Guidelines

With less than three months before the guidelines are expected to be finalized, the House Agriculture Committee today held a public hearing to continue their oversight of the development of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services share the task of developing the guidelines, and this was the first time both Secretaries Vilsack and Burwell have commented on the process. Following the hearing, Philip Ellis, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president made the following statement:

“Cattle producers commend the Secretaries on the open process in crafting the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and appreciate Congress' continued oversight throughout the process. We were pleased the Secretaries announced the guidelines will not include topics beyond the scope of nutrition and diet and also support their recognition of fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy, whole grains, lean meats and other proteins as part of a healthy diet.

“Cattle farmers and ranchers have made significant investments in nutrition research to understand beef’s role in a healthy diet. Since the inception of the Dietary Guidelines in 1980 this research has been shared and it’s important for federal policies, like the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, to incorporate the latest nutrition evidence and recognize the role today’s lean beef plays in a healthy diet. We recognize there is still work to be done as the recommendations are being finalized, and we appreciate the House Committee on Agriculture holding this hearing today.”